A Borrowing of Bones

This book was short-listed for the Mary Higgins Clark Award and named the Dogwise Book of the Year. It features ex-soldier Mercy Carr and retired military K-9 Elvis, who were both traumatized when Mercy’s fiancé—also Elvis’s handler—was killed on their last deployment.

Paula Munier is another author with a deep connection to the natural world. She is studying for a naturalist certificate in her home state of Vermont, and the books are full of great details.

I’m recommending another first book in a series here. Mercy Carr, a former MP, and her retired bomb-sniffing dog, Elvis, have come home from Afghanistan to heal in Vermont’s Green Mountains.

Both suffer from PTSD and are grieving the loss of Carr’s fiance and Elvis’ original handler.

The story brings to life a beautiful setting as well as takes us on the duo’s journey toward wellness. There’s a great mystery with a strong emotional current.

As a bonus, I love mysteries where the characters actually grow.

This traditional mystery series features Mercy Carr, a war veteran, and Elvis, her dog, a 5-year-old Malinois who suffers from canine PTSD after his service as a military dog. They are a sympathetic and endearing team as they help each other recover from their losses.

I learned a lot about the recovery process of military trainers and military dogs after trauma. I’m so glad there are people with the know-how and patience who will care for these canine heroes. Game Warden Troy Warner and his Newfy-mix, Susie Bear, are a light-hearted counterweight to the sadness of Mercy and Elvis. This… show more.

Mercy Carr, former military police, inherits her fiance’s sniffer dog, when Martinez is killed in action. Elvis is a Malinois suffering from canine PTSD while Mercy’s reeling from a broken heart. She and Elvis take long walks in the Vermont mountains and one day the dog alerts them to explosives. At the same time, the twosome finds a crying baby alone in the woods and a shallow grave with human bones.

They are joined by Game Warden Troy and his 100-pound Newfoundland, Susie Bear. Mercy and Elvis put themselves in physical danger as both lack boundaries in their grief. Troy… show more.

This series is interesting due to the complexity of the characters. Mercy, the main character, an ex-military police officer, and her dog Elvis, also ex-military and suffering from canine PTSD are sent home from action. Both of the characters are wounded and grieving the loss of one man-Mercy’s fiance and Elvis’s handler. Along with a compelling mystery the two stumble upon, the readers also get an understanding of the incredible power dogs have to help humans heal.

We often reveal much more of ourselves to our canine companions and the reader is able to learn more about the human characters… show more.